Eucharist

The numbers in parenthese that follow the questions refer to related paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Eucharist

1. How is Jesus still with us?
2. What is the Holy Eucharist?
3. Why did Jesus give us the Holy Eucharist?
4. How is the Eucharist different from all the other sacraments?
5. Is the Eucharist important?
6. What do the words of consecration tell us?
7. What is transubstantiation?
8. Why does the Eucharist still look and taste like bread and wine?
9. How can we be sure this transubstantiation really happens?
10. If Jesus is present under the species of bread and wine, why do we usually receive only the Host?
11. What is Corpus Christi?
12. What is the Mass or Eucharistic Celebration?
13. What does the word "Eucharist" mean?
14. Why do we call the Eucharistic Celebration the "Mass"?
15. What are some other names for the Mass?
16. How can Jesus be truly present at so many Masses at once?
17. When was the Eucharist First celebrated?
18. Who were present at the First Eucharistic Celebration?
19. How does Christ renew the sacrifice of the cross?
20. Why does Christ renew his sacrifice today?
21. Why is Jesus called the Lamb of God at every Eucharistic Celebration?
22. What are the main purposes of the Mass?
23. What roles do the priest and people have at Mass?
24. What are the presidential prayers of the Mass?
25. What are the fruits of participating in the Mass with attention and love?
26. Why is the Mass so important?
27. Are Catholics obliged to participate in the Mass?
28. Should a Catholic ever stop going to Mass?

1. How is Jesus still with us?
Jesus is still with us in his Church, in his Word, in the seven sacraments, in the Christian community, in the needy, and in other ways, but most especially in the Holy Eucharist. (1373)

2. What is the Holy Eucharist?
The Holy Eucharist is a sacrament, a sacrifice, and the abiding presence of Jesus himself, God and man. He is truly and completely present under the appearances of bread and wine, to make us more like himself and to join us to one another.

I am the bread of life (Jn 6:35).

3. Why did Jesus give us the Holy Eucharist?
Jesus gave us the Holy Eucharist because he wanted to stay close to his followers until the end of time to teach us, comfort us, strengthen us and make us holy. (1323)

Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst (Jn 6:35).

4. How is the Eucharist different from all the other sacraments?
The Eucharist is different from all the other sacraments because under the appearances of bread and wine Jesus Christ is completely present as both God and man. Itis his Body and Blood. In the other sacraments, he is present only by his power and its effects.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever, but the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh (Jn 6:51).

5. Is the Eucharist important?
Yes, the Eucharist is of the greatest importance. It is "the sum and summary of our faith." (1327-1328)

6. What do the words of consecration tell us?
The words of consecration said at Mass-"This is my body which will be given up for you..."; "This is the cup of my blood.... It will be shed for you..."-tell us that the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ, and that Christ is offered in sacrifice. (1313)

The blessing cup we bless, is it not a sharing in Christ's blood? The bread we break, is it not a sharing in Christ's body? (1 Cor 10:16-17).

7. What is transubstantiation?
Transubstantiation is the changing of the entire substance of bread and wine into Christ's Body and Blood. This takes place at Mass at the moment of the consecration. (1373-1377, 1413)

8. Why does the Eucharist still look and taste like bread and wine?
Even though the words of consecration change the entire substance of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of the Lord, the Eucharist still looks and tastes like bread and wine in order to elicit our faith. The change is in the substance (what it actually is); however, the accidents (what it looks and tastes like) remain the same. We say rightly that it is Jesus under the appearance of bread and wine. Jesus wanted to veil his Real Presence and come to us in a way that would be familiar to us, as food. (1333-1336, 1374, 1392, 1404)

If anyone eats the bread or drinks from the cup of the Lord unworthily, he will be answerable for the Body and Blood of the Lord (1 Cor 11:27).

9. How can we be sure this transubstantiation really happens?
There is no way that we can prove that transubstantiation really happens at Mass. We know it is true because Jesus said it is so. Our faith is in him. As Son of God he would not emphasize something in his teaching that was not true. As God who created the whole universe from nothing, he can certainly change the nature of something he created. (1375)

10. If Jesus is present under the species of bread and wine, why do we usually receive only the Host?
Although Jesus is present under both species, the sacrament is often given only under the form of bread (the Host) for reasons of practicality, such as fear of spilling the Precious Blood, or for people's uneasiness at sharing a cup with many other people. It is important to remember that the Lord is present under both species. We are not deprived of his Presence by receiving him only under one form. However, it is more perfect to receive the Eucharist under both species because it is more clearly and completely a sign of communion. (1390)

11. What is Corpus Christi?
Corpus Christi is Latin for the Body of Christ. It is also a feast day the Church dedicates to giving praise and thanks to the Holy Eucharist in a special way; it is celebrated on the second Sunday after Pentecost (in the United States).

12. What is the Mass or Eucharistic Celebration?
The Mass or Eucharistic Celebration is:

. the sacrifice of the cross taking place today on our altars;
. a memorial of Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension;
. a sacred banquet in which the food we receive is Jesus himself. (1329-1330)

13. What does the word "Eucharist" mean?
The word Eucharist, which we use for Christ fully present under the appearances of bread and wine, means "thanksgiving." (1328)

The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you..." (1 Cor 11:23). (RSV)

14. Why do we call the Eucharistic Celebration the "Mass"?
The word "Mass" comes from the Latin wormiest which means "sending"("missio"). At the end of every Mass we are sent out with a commission: "Go in peace to love and serve God and one another." (1332)

15. What are some other names for the Mass?
Other names for the Mass include: the Lord's Supper, the Eucharistic assembly, the memorial of the Lord's Passion and resurrection, the holy Sacrifice, the Liturgy, the Eucharistic Celebration, Eucharistic Sacrifice and Breaking of Bread. Liturgy means "service." (1328-1332)

16. How can Jesus be truly present at so many Masses at once?
Jesus is truly present at every Mass all over the world because each priest has the power to consecrate the Eucharist. Christ's Body and Blood are present in a way that is not subject to conditions of space and time. Jesus wants to make himself available to all of us, as he prophesied:

And when I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all men to myself (Jn 12:32).

17. When was the Eucharist First celebrated?
Jesus celebrated the First Eucharist at the Last Supper on Holy Thursday evening, the night before he died. (1339)

Then he took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given up for you-do this in my remembrance." Likewise he took the cup after they had eaten and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you" (Lk 22:19-20).

18. Who were present at the First Eucharistic Celebration?
The apostles were present at the First Eucharistic Celebration. (1340)

When the hour came he sat down at table with the apostles (Lk 22:14).

19. How does Christ renew the sacrifice of the cross?
For our sake Christ renews the sacrifice of the cross in an unbloody manner at Mass. (1337, 1367)

He is always alive to intercede for them (Heb 7:25).

20. Why does Christ renew his sacrifice today?
Christ renews his sacrifice for us and for our world today so that he can remain with us throughout history, and so that through him, with him, and in him, we can adore and thank the Father and ask his forgiveness and help. (1341-1344, 1356-1358)

He presented himself as an unblemished offering to God and will purify our consciences from dead works so that we will be to worship the living God (Heb 9:14).

21. Why is Jesus called the Lamb of God at every Eucharistic Celebration?
Jesus is called the Lamb of God because he was slain like the Passover Lamb, and his Paschal Mystery saved us from the slavery of sin. (608)

Christ our Paschal Lamb has been sacrificed (1 Cor 5:7). (See also Is 53:7; Jn 1:36; Rev 5:12)

22. What are the main purposes of the Mass?
Through the Mass, the Church offers praise, adoration and thanksgiving to God the Father. As the memorial of Christ's sacrifice, the Mass is offered in reparation for sins, and in it we ask God's help for ourselves and others. (1358, 1407, 1414)

23. What roles do the priest and people have at Mass?
All the people gathered together in the Eucharistic assembly participate in the Mass, according to their proper roles. The priest presides over the celebration. He alone acts in the person of Christ the Head, who is always the invisible high priest. (1348)

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens-Jesus the Son of God-let us hold fast to the faith we profess (Heb 4:14).

24. What are the presidential prayers of the Mass?
They are the prayers which can be said only by a priest as presider, for example, the Eucharistic Prayer.

25. What are the fruits of participating in the Mass with attention and love?
The Eucharist builds up the Church in unity and love, drawing us closer together in Christ. It helps us grow in the love of God and neighbor, especially the poor. Through it we grow spiritually, are strengthened to avoid sin, and obtain graces and blessings. We also receive a pledge of the glory to come in eternal life. (1391-1405)

26. Why is the Mass so important?
In the Mass, Jesus himself is made present and prays to the Father for us. (1324)

27. Are Catholics obliged to participate in the Mass?
Because of the importance of the Mass, the Church obliges us to participate in the Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation. (For a listing of the holy days in the United States, see page 225.) (1389)

28. Should a Catholic ever stop going to Mass?
No Catholic should stop going to Mass, for any reason. Even persons who cannot receive Holy Communion (for example, because of remarriage after a divorce) should participate in the Mass to fulfill their duty to worship God and to ask his help and mercy.